Letter from Shitao to Tuiweng

CHINA; Qing dynasty

Written by the monk Shitao, this letter was addressed to Tuiweng, a devotee. It contains words of blessings and gratitude for Tuiweng’s care and kindness which Shitao felt he was unable to repay. The letter was delivered alongside persimmons and other gifts as a token of his appreciation.
The swiftly executed calligraphy, with light and heavy lines, carries a natural composition encompassed by vivid contrasts in the saturation of ink on the page. Urgency is expressed as if the entire text was written in a single breath. Despite the occurrence of sharp, angular tip ends, the strokes remain well-rounded and the characters commodiously structured. These characteristics keenly recall the calligraphic aesthetics of Yan Zhenqing and Mi Fu’s works. The briskness and alacrity of the brushwork also demonstrates the influence of both running and cursive scripts from the late Ming dynasty (1368–1644).
Shitao had an original name of Zhu Ruoji and was also known by his Dharma name, Yuanji. He was an eminent monk of the early Qing dynasty (1644–1911) and was well-known for his paintings and calligraphy. In addition, he was highly regarded for his publication, Art of Painting, in which detailed theories on aesthetics were set forth, many of which contain Chan Buddhist allegories that have substantially influenced later generations.